Flash Welding

Error

Questions and Answers

In general flash welding does not require part preparation. The two mating surfaces do not need to be cleaned. The arcing will remove the surface contaminants. The surfaces do not have to be flat to mate up well. In fact a rough cut creates arc initiation sites. If anything one might cut the material on purpose to create a rough surface or even a sloped surface. A sloped surface will concentrate the arc at the point which touches first. It will burn away quickly until the whole surface is arcing. It is the arcing action which cleans and brings the part up to the desired conditions needed for good joining.

Flash welding is designed to begin the process with an electrical arc struck between the two parts to be welded. This arc will create an excessive amount of heat on the two mating surfaces where it makes contact. The result is molten material forms at the point of impact. This molten material frequently is expelled out of the joint as flash. It is hot and dangerous and shielding should be used for personal safety. This same flash can accumulate on the machine, the part and surrounding areas. Clean up will be required to maintain good safe housekeeping. Minimize magnetic materials in the area if welding to reduce steel slag accumulation.This flash is good for the process and is necessary because it is both heating and cleaning the faying surfaces in preparation for making a good joint.

Yes, non-cast wheel rims are made by flash welding. The work acts as the electrode and the entire cross section is welded. The parts are clamped and brought close together. Force is not applied and the current begins. The intent is to strike an arc between the two surfaces. This resultant arc heats and by removing the surface material in the flash cleans the mating surfaces and prepares them for bonding. At the proper time force is applied and the arc current is removed. The surfaces come together and the heating may continue with standard Joules Law heat H= I2rt heating at the joint. The metal upsets and a joint is formed. The current is turned off and cooling begins. When cooled, force is removed and the part joint is complete and ready for slag/flash removal.

Flash welding is a joining process used to join two parts together. The work acts as the electrode and the entire cross section is welded. The parts are clamped and brought close together and a current is applied. The current creates an arc between the work pieces and heating begins as well as expulsion. Force is applied. The arding current is removed and the parts come together. the parts joint is upset/forged to the desired amount. the part is cooled and the force is removed. The resultant flash weld has weld flash around the weld area that is usually mechanically removed. The resultant welds are very strong and fluid tight. Wheel rims are manufactured using this process and are very relaible. The rims do not leak air on our cars and trucks.

Flash and butt welding both use the work piece as the electrode. They both use a clamp to hold the parts and apply force. The entire cross section of the work piece is welded. It is in the timing and application of force and current that they differ.In butt welding the parts are clamped brought together under force and then current is applied. The parts heat due to Joules Law H=I2 rt heating. The joint gets hot upsets and after cooling the force is removed. The result is a strong butt joint.

Flash welding uses similar clamps but the parts are place close to each other before force is applied. Current initiates with the intent of creating an arc which generates large amounts of heat and metal flash. This flashing action both cleans and heats the mating faces of the parts. Then force is applied as the arc current is terminated. The hot parts are upset and joined together. The part cools and force is removed. This flash weld joint is also very strong.